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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
24 Jan 2019 - 12:48

null Humility

Amongst the many qualities associated with being a great manager, a leader, humility is not the one that comes to mind first. And yet great leaders are separated from simply successful leaders by this very quality. Humility provides the ability to learn from your failures and all leaders have their failures.  To be a successful manager you must have self belief. Leaders are decisive and... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
22 Jan 2019 - 15:39

null Angry Bosses

Angry, aggressive, volatile, unpredictable bosses you’ve had one or may be you have one. The good news is they have had their day. The shouty, sweary boss is on the way out. It’s debatable whether it ever motivated staff more likely intimidated and inhibited, making them afraid to make a mistake. The angry boss is being replaced by the Nice Guy. This doesn’t mean that the new style boss never... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
21 Jan 2019 - 17:33

null Just like 2001 A Space Odyssey

The car engine warning light came on but the mechanics could find nothing wrong. It reminded me of that scene in the film 2001 where the ships computer, HAL, alerts the ships crew that a piece of external equipment is about to fail. The crew investigate but can find nothing wrong. The two crew members discuss the implications in an escape pod where Hale can’t over hear them. The computer is... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
15 Jan 2019 - 15:32

null The Favourite

Have you seen the film yet. Well if not you will have heard about it. With out giving away too much it is about the rivalry between two women to be the Queens “favourite “. Being the Queens favourite confers status and influence. Considerable influence. Either on matters of state or enhancing the individual’s standing in society. The film also shows senior politicians passion for duck... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
14 Jan 2019 - 14:49

null Bullies are not bad people

Your boss may be a bully but that doesn’t make them a bad person. We have a problem of bullying in the public sector and we’re not going to solve it by treating it as just a few bad people. Getting rid of these individuals or putting more safe guards in place that reduce the ability of managers to abuse their power won’t  work. Even if it were that simple it wouldn’t work because the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Jan 2019 - 15:40

null Kirstie and Phil plus Kevin and estate agents with all year round  suntans agree with Jose 

It was one of those remarks by Jose Mourinho that on first hearing you think something has been lost in translation. Never the less you turn it over in your mind because as well as being a controversial figure he is/was a very successful manager, the management gurus ,guru.  Referring to building a successful team he said,  “It’s like buying a house-there’s more to it than... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
01 Jan 2019 - 14:54

null Is your organisation being run like a cult?

Does your Organisation demand enthusiasm from its employees? Does the leader expect unquestioning loyalty? Is dissent considered disloyalty? Unquestioning loyalty, unshakable belief and absolute obedience to the leader are the characteristics of a cult. In many authorities it is not enough for (senior)managers to deliver budget reductions  and hit ambitious performance targets they... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Dec 2018 - 15:39

null Sawdust in the bread 

The Gulag was a system of forced labor camps established during Joseph Stalin’s long reign as dictator of the Soviet Union.Gulag prisoners could work up to 14 hours per day. Typical Gulag labor was exhausting physical work. Toiling sometimes in the most extreme climates. Food was rationed, bread was a staple and baked on site. To make more loaves with the same amount of flour... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Dec 2018 - 13:14

null Everyone is expected to be a team player but some just pretend

  The research, from the Ashridge at Hult International Business School, examined the engagement levels of teams of workers, across seven different employment sectors, such as health, government, transport and not-for-profits. It found some very motivated workers and some who were plainly disgruntled and disaffected. But about one in five teams was a conundrum where staff appeared to be... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
20 Dec 2018 - 11:10

null Did I say that out loud?

I thought the words. I can be seen mouthing the words. I said the words under  my breath,  more to myself than anyone else, maybe in the expectation that those sitting either side of me would hear. I didn’t expect the person would hear my comment.They did and they were angry. I can expect a reprimand. You just don’t say that type of thing whatever your thoughts on their behaviour... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 Dec 2018 - 17:20

null Even the special one can get the sack

It’s not such a disaster and certainly not a disgraced to get the sack. Provided it wasn’t for accessing porn on your work lap top or making a racists joke at the office Christmas do.  It’s a myth that being forced out of one authority you won’t be welcome in another. In my view if you have never been asked to leave you probably haven’t been trying hard enough. The reasons they wanted you... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
18 Dec 2018 - 15:41

null Ghosts 

  The candidate who doesn’t turn up for the interview. The person offered the post who asks to think about it over night and never gets back to you. The guy who doesn’t return after the first day. The employee who simply doesn’t turn in for work one day and is never seen or heard of again. These are the ghosts. First noticed during the explosion in the Chinese economy, a massive... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Dec 2018 - 16:25

null Meritocracy and the Average Football Team

A meritocracy is a good thing isn’t it? A football team selected on skill and effort would be a good example of a meritocracy in action. The Sunday league team I played for and the kids teams I have been involved with are examples of why a meritocracy is not a good thing.  Team selection was not based on merit alone although there were always those who thought it should be. Every season... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
06 Dec 2018 - 11:21

null The Tail Should Not Wag The Dog

  I once told the head of HR that the tail shouldn’t wag the dog. I didn’t last long in that organisation. I leant my lesson.  I had been in post about a year when there was a management restructuring and the chief executive offered me the post of assistant director operations. A couple of weeks later the director of HR invited me to head office to discuss how we would work together... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 Dec 2018 - 12:05

null Unconscious Bias

Racism and sexism are taboo. Equalities are enshrined in the law yet society still looks unfair. People strenuously deny being racists and yet the evidence of discrimination backs up the claims of people from ethnic and religious minority groups. The explanation, unconscious bias. Basically people don’t know they are doing it. They have involuntarily soaked up attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
28 Nov 2018 - 17:19

null Walk a mile in my shoes

I heard of a director spending the day in a wheel chair, “ to get to know what’s it like having a disability”. Whilst I could see that this was well intentioned pretending to be disabled for a day didn’t feel right nor did it seem the best way to learn about the obstacles and attitudes that restrict an individual’s independence.    I felt the same way when I read about a new... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Nov 2018 - 15:21

null Who will protect us from the bullies?

In the past the answer would have been senior management, the Trade Union and HR. But senior management can no longer be relied on to set a good example, the trade unions have been weakened,  so that leaves HR !   Let’s be brutally honest where there is a bulling problem there is also a lack of confidence in HR to tackle it. This is probably unfair on HR. They have developed the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
25 Nov 2018 - 11:25

null The Dark Arts 

So you think leadership is about vision, taking responsibility and inspiring others. Leadership is about holding on to power.  We talk a lot about leadership qualities but we tend to skip over the darker skills used by leaders to defeat challengers. I’m referring to isolating, undermining and intimidating.  Getting people on your side in order to isolate any challenger. Emphasising... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
12 Nov 2018 - 18:35

null Intmidation

David Attenborough appears to be demonstrating that apes have much in common when it comes to leadership. Perhaps it’s not so surprising that chimpanzees and naked apes should take the same approach to gaining and retaining power. May be you find it reassuring to learn that it’s not just humans who resort to bulling, scheming and ganging up to get to the top of the hierarchy. Personally I found... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 Jan 2019 - 11:20

null So why didn’t the aliens stop and say hello

Spotted last October whizzing past the sun, too fast to have originated in our solar system. It disappeared from view in January. It was long and thin, unlike any asteroid or comet seen before. It’s surface was carbon based not ice or rock and passing the sun it suddenly sped up. A space ship? If it was aliens why didn’t they call in and say hello? After all as far as we know we are the only... See more
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